Victoria Madrid Martín
The President of the European Parliament has taken part in a meeting with young people as part of her political agenda during her stay in Madrid 100 days before the European elections to promote the vote.
The meeting took place on Thursday 29th February at the Círculo de Bellas Artes and was moderated by journalist Carlos Franganillo, the current director of Telecinco news. The event lasted less than planned, barely 50 minutes, due to the President's busy schedule.
In her speech to encourage young people to vote and to promote voting among their closest circles, the president said, "others will decide for you if you do not vote, and I am sure you want to make your decisions for yourselves". She stressed the need for education to make people understand the importance of their participation in these elections.
The meeting was attended by around 400 young people, mostly university and professional education students, but also by a large number of people with functional diversity, which is why two sign language interpreters were present. The attendees had the opportunity to ask the president a number of questions about their concerns regarding the European Union.
She was asked about the entrance of Ukraine in the EU and she pointed out that when the war broke out shortly after she was elected president, she was one of the first to support the process, and that now that it is underway, they are taking it "step by step". She also spoke of her own experience in her country, Malta, which also experienced a long process and remarked that the important thing is that the process it’s on its way and the work is being done.
A young man, who introduced himself as a member of the ONCE foundation, asked about the situation of disabled people in the member states and what measures could be implemented to encourage them to vote. The President replied, "I want the European Parliament to be the home of all" and spoke of the QR system that was to be implemented to promote access to voting for these people and the approval of the European Disability Card.
Mental health was another of the highlighted issues, with Metsola referring to the difficulties of the younger generation who experienced the pandemic when they were just starting to develop as people and who "have lost two years of their lives". She was very concerned about the increase in suicides and called on the audience to be aware of their loved ones and to help those who are struggling.
Another concern mentioned was the European study grants. The president explained that it was a personal matter for her that the funds "should not be touched" and encouraged those present to contact the European Parliament institutions to find out what their opportunities are and also to report any problems they encounter in the scholarship system in order to solve them in the future and ensure its effectiveness.
In the last European elections in 2019 the turnout increased to 50.6%, the highest point since 1994. It was of vital importance the youth turnout, which increased both among the under 25s (42%) and in the 25-39 age group (47%). In addition, this year Belgium and Germany will be able to vote from the age of 16, joining Malta, Greece and Austria which already did so, for this reason mobilising the younger electorate could be a determining factor in these elections.
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